FREE gas...

... for the residents of Sioux Falls, SD.
**psyche**
They were just named the safest city in the US by Allstate Insurance.
YAY!
Sioux Falls ROCKS.

8 Years ago today...

JTC and I were getting hitched.
Wow.
John and I have been married eight years.
And... we've known each other since 1993.
It doesn't seem like it's been that long...
but then again...
it seems like I've known him all my life.

We had the best wedding... seriously. It was a small, hometown wedding in the remote reaches of Northeast Nebraska. Originally it was supposed to be outside with about 40 guests in my parent's pasture near the Missouri River... followed by a huge reception / party in town.

But then it rained.

So, in small town fashion, we shifted gears. Pastor had already made sure the church (the one I grew up in BTW) was there as a back-up plan. So, we got on the phone and invited everyone who was coming to the reception to the wedding, too. Everyone we called, called someone else and then they called someone else, and so on. When all was said and done there were probably 200 or more people who came to the service. We even greeted everyone at the door as they arrived... it was GREAT. It truly rocked.

My friend Denice (who's back hurt so bad that day she could hardly stand it... what an amazing friend) sang a song I wrote for the service while our friend Rod backed her on guitar.

We said our vows... everything else felt like time flying by... but the vows stopped time for a little while. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Once the service was over, John and I stood at the end of every row and said hello / thank you to everyone. It was so amazing to have everyone there.

After the service, we rode all over Bloomfield in a horse drawn wagon driven (and owned) by a long-time family friend, Doug... eventually he delivered us to the reception at the local VFW.

By the time we arrived there, tons of friends and family had already bellied up to the open bar (my Dad insisted) and we ready to enjoy the incredible food prepared by my Mom, Brenda and our neighbor lady, Carol... ham, potatoes, potato salad, etc.

AND, my friend Paige made our wedding cake and the groom's cake. The wedding cake was perfect... simple white frosting with real flowers woven around the two tiers. John's groom cake looked like a drum... she even added a real pair of drum sticks to it for authenticity!

The reception was a whirlwind... I don't even think John and I spoke most of the night. We were too busy catchin up with family and friends who'd driven far and wide to be there.

Then, at the end of the night, we ended up across the street to another bar... John and I and our bandmates (Rod & Kenny & Denice) all sat-in with the band that was playing... wedding dress and all. It was spectacular.

To this day, John and I still reflect on our wedding day as one of the best days ever. And, I imagine we will for the rest of our lives, too.

So, eventhough the two of us aren't able to be in each other's presence on this very special day, we are together.

Waiting for JTC to come along is one of the smartest things I've ever done. Getting to spend the rest of our lives together just doesn't seem long enough. I feel truly blessed to be married to the most amazing man... and my favorite person in the entire universe.

Shannan's a mom!

YAY!
Congratulations Shannan and Brent!

Brock William was born Sunday April 30 at 10:50pm, weighing 5 lb 10 oz and 19 1/4 inches long. He surprised them by arriving 3 weeks early, and in the process ended up sharing a birthday with Shannan's Dad. How cool is that?!

Brock didn't get to go home until 5/5 because he was having low body temp / low oxygen issues... and Shannan didn't get to go home until 5/4 due to high blood pressure issues. But both are doing much better now and recuperating nicely at home. Per Shannan's e-mail, Brock was on heart and respiration monitors until his actual due date (5/22) just as a precaution. **fingers crossed** Hopefully he didn't need them after that.

Anyway...
Isn't he adorable?!

Can't wait to meet him.
Wish I could figure out a way to do it before Christmas, too.
Jetz... wanna come to Nashville during your leave?!
It's much warmer than ND!
**wink**

More insidious timewasters...

Courtesy of an email from DP:
Freefallin.
Interesting... but kinda creepy.

And, from my friend Mike in TX:
Penquin Baseball
-- Punch Sasquatch to release the Penguin
-- Punch again to "swing"
-- Hit OK to reload
Disturbingly fun.

Lee Roy Parnell on CMT 330 Sessions

The 330 Session of LRP and the guys is now up on CMT.com.

(You'll need a high speed connection to view the video AND be sure to view it using Internet Explorer... the media wouldn't load when I tried it using Firefox.)

LRP rocks... and man... that drummer is so HOT.
**wink**

No tequila.

OK... I'm back from my trip home to Nebraska. While I have tons to tell you... I don't have tons of time to write... so watch for the details this weekend...

**fingers crossed**

In the meantime, I thought I'd share one of the funniest quotes of the trip.

As my Dad was fixin' some Margaritas for my Mom and me on Sunday afternoon, he asked Katie, my 8-year-old neice, if she would like to try one without the tequila.

Her response, "I don't want any tequila. Tequila makes your clothes fall off."

Now THAT is funny.

She's obviously a Joe Nichols fan (click and read the title of song #3)

Cassy graduates this weekend

Wow.
Can you believe it?
Cassy, my oldest niece, is graduating from high school this weekend.

Where did the time go?

She's eighteen (the one on the right... that's my other brother's daughter Madisen on the left) and ready to spread her wings... got college and scholarships and all that grown-up stuff going on.
The other freaky thing is that Brenda, her mom, and I are the same age.
Yikers.

Anyway... I'll be out of pocket until Tuesday. If I can get a decent connection on dial-up in NE, I may post. But most likely... I'll be posting a recap when I return.

Have a great weekend... take care of the blogosphere for me while I'm gone!